Vice chancellor backs call for joint university effort

CALLS for Exeter and Plymouth Universities to join forces to provide university
facilities in Cornwall have been backed by the vice chancellor of Plymouth
University, Professor John Bull.

He said this week that he thought it was an excellent idea. He said all the
interested parties needed to sit down and work out how best to achieve the
development of higher education in Cornwall, whether that be through one campus
or a number of campuses.

He said Plymouth already invested a lot of resources in higher education
in Cornwall and what was most important was that whatever happened it had
to be viable and sustainable and be able to grow and develop.

"You don't have to make dramatic gestures. It's about being there and
sustainability

"The issue is providing something viable and sustainable and it may
not be a single campus but a variety of campuses," he said.

"Clearly our interest and concern for Cornwall has always been, and
will always remain, to ensure there is a greater provision of higher education
opportunities than at present. We already put a lot of resources into funding
higher education in Cornwall and we want to see it grow and blossom.

"Whatever happens it must work because if it doesn't it would be very
damaging to Cornwall," he added.

This weekend St Ives MP Andrew George will be having a private meeting with
Sir Geoffrey Holland, vice chancellor of Exeter University to ask him to update
local supporters of the university on the latest situation, and consider what
additional support local people can offer the initiative.

Mr George has also asked Richard Caborn, Minister for the Regions, to arrange
a meeting of the heads of higher education and other interested parties to
discuss the future needs of higher education in Cornwall.

"We knew this would be a long and hard road to follow if the Millennium
Commission bid was unsuccessful, and so it is proving to be," said Mr
George. "Megaphone opinionation does nothing to help. Working practically,
with all parties to find a way through, does.

This is a critical time for the planning of higher education in Cornwall.
Using the Exeter University initiative as a political football is very unhelpful,"
Mr George added.

Document preparation: Chris Salter, Original
Think-tank, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Comments and suggestions are more than welcome and should be directed along
with any problem reports to webdesign@originalthinktank.org.uk
Document Reference: <URL:http://www.originalthinktank.org.uk/archive/uoc/news9813.html>
Last modification: 14th January 2002
Last information content change: 12th November 1998